NPR Music

It isn't like it used to be, when you heard great music on the radio during the drive to the lake -- and then that song became emblematic of the day or the whole summer and then just hearing it again made you lighter. I think the music that makes you feel like that is still out there, it's just so much harder to concentrate on it or find the time for it, or sometimes just to recognize it when you hear it.

Anyway, that's why it's such a happy thing that someone points that stuff out.

Songs for a Drab and Unfulfilling Existence is a great article by one of the staffers at NPR.org, and the first couple of songs it links sound like the first weekend of the summer.

Kind of nice on a fall day.

(Here's a sample, if you don't want to follow the links. Just click.)



I recommend NPR's page: Discover Songs. Not everything's a home run, but you'll find things you might not have found otherwise.

My Ben Folds Weekend!

Ben Folds played in Louisville last weekend and bk bought tickets a couple of months ago (because he's awesome) so we went. The show was great, not least in part because the Louisville Symphony -- the backup band for the evening -- is familiar with Folds's work with Shatner and did a really lovely, geeky tribute to the six Star Trek franchises. And because their conductor is so enthusiastic you just want to run down to the stage and high five him most of the time.

The weekend was also fabulous because we found some really fun geo-caches. One of them involved us driving to the top of a nine-story parking garage, dashing from corner to corner -- lining up various landmarks with various other landmarks -- and then driving down to the bottom and through the "chimes of freedom" to a lovely place where we logged our names and said thanks for the cache.

The weekend was also fabulous because bk and I had a picnic lunch across the street from the Louisville Metro Correctional Center and it was romantic and pretty (unless you're a man, it was pleasant and eco-friendly, then, damn it).

Finally, the weekend was fabulous because of the hotel. We stayed at 21c Museum Hotel (I should mention -- because we are poor people -- this was an extravagance). The hotel has a theme, which should be clear from perusing this photograph (there are at least 20 more penguins perched on the eaves of the building, and at least 20 more stationed at various locations throughout the hotel):





(bk and I have a wonderful series of photographs of the penguin that became enamored with bk and left to join the circus...) ...but, I digress.

The hotel's larger theme is art for art's sake. It's not confrontational, it doesn't make you angry, it makes you laugh. For the most part it makes you say, Oh, honey, look at that! bk took this photograph at the elevators and I wish I'd looked smarter or prettier or something. The letters of the words fall from the ceiling and if you step into the frame, the words pause at your silhouette. It's hard to tell from the pic.





The hotel's art makes it really special. Moments I remember include:

"Hey, she's moving!"
"Wasn't that penguin over there earlier?"
"Bill, wake up, come look at this!"

San Diego

San Diego was the site for my company's most recent client forum -- sort of a convention where we get our clients to talk about what they like, see what's new, hang out, and generally have a good time. It's something many of us dread (including me), but I always have fun.

This year we had a great speaker in Brett Leake, who is both a comedian and a motivational speaker -- emphasis on the comedy (I laughed until I cried). Here's a link to his website. He's very inspirational in that he has some significant health issues that are a big part of his act, but he presents his material in such a way that you end up thinking not about his story so much as your own. It was a very touching (and, again, very funny) talk.

My flight home was at around nine in the morning and I enjoyed the airport so much that I wanted to share. These are some things that were right around my departure gate. The fountain with the "sun" above it is quite stunning in real life.

Pictures I Like

This post is rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some depictions of lawlessness.

Last week, I came back after picking up lunch one day to find that someone had been at my desk, messing with the breakfast item I had brought but not eaten. The usual suspect was laughing so hard he couldn't even defend himself.

"I can't believe how filthy it looks," he giggled. Son of a preacher man, my eye. (OK, well, it is very funny. Go ahead and click to see it better. You know you want to.)

* * *

We had a social event at work last October with much dressing up and merriment. I've already shared the winning pumpkin's photograph (check the archives to see Nascar Cindy, carved by Farmer's Wife and me). I was looking through another collection of pictures from that event and came across this gorgeous version of bk.

Best prison girlfriend ever.

For Sale

My house is for sale. I've been talking to the realtor over a couple of weeks -- cleaning, filling out paperwork, cleaning, talking, cleaning. Typical drill.

I've sold two houses before. The first I didn't sell so much as give away. The second sold within the first week it was on the market. I like this house -- love it, in fact. But it's really, really far away from where I want to spend my time.

I don't think this one will sell right away and I'm prepared for a long wait. But it's a pretty house to live in, so I don't mind.

Check out my website: PrettyGoodLife's House. Be sure to click on the Visual Tour at the left.

p.s. And then click the "Buy Now!" button.

The Last Picture Show

Last night I went to Lexington Green, the first movie theatre that I ever saw in Lexington . . . for the last time.

I remember it being really busy the first time I went there, but last night the same girl working the ticket stand was working concession. Don't get me wrong, they're not closing, but they're going to be a discount theatre and that's, well -- I don't fly coach if I can help it. I'm not ragging on them for doing what they need to do to survive, I just wish they were still going to be my source for obscure gems.

The Kentucky is another art house movie palace, it's downtown, and it's . . . great. It's a classic building, plus it has lots of interesting movies. I saw Priceless there. Lost in Translation. And the re-release of Blade Runner (and? By the way -- Deckard? Totally not a replicant.). I saw a few others at The Kentucky, too. Parking is a nightmare, although they make fun choices -- but, then, they only have two screens.

Lex Green is right in the middle of town so it's easy to get to, easy to park, etc., etc. Plus, I've seen a ton of great movies there. I saw Pan's Labyrinth, The Orphanage, The Visitor, When Did You Last See Your Father, and Mama Mia!, just to name a few.

We saw Bottle Shock there the other night (great!) with a pretty full house. Then we saw Henry Poole Is Here last night and we were the only ones in there (also great!).

Concession Girl said they are now going to be a dollar theatre (to be truthful, $1.50), she said it was a corporate decision, it came as a surprise to her, and she was kind of bummed about it because she really likes the movies they show.

She thinks they will still have the opera series.

William Shatner - Has Been - In Stores Now!

bk made a couple of mix CD's for me, and this was probably the funniest, most surprising piece of the whole thing. I can't link you to the song, but here's a video (from YouTube's gildersniff) that captures the essence. If you find the video distracting, just listen. ;-)

There is some obviously real and talented singing on the song -- that's Mr. Ben Folds, who arranged Has Been. [Edited to note that the singer is Joe Jackson, not Ben Folds. See the comment below for proper credits for everything. Oops.]

Also, interesting side note, you'll hear a crowd start to sing, and bk knows two of the singers (I know one). The crowd was recorded live at a Ben Folds concert.

Click.